Book Review: Kidnapped by the Taliban

This book is about the kidnapping and rescue of American Doctor, Joseph Dilip by the Taliban.  This book was hard to put down and provided an honest account of his experience.  Dr. Joseph was on a medical mission to Afghanistan when he and two of his colleagues were kidnapped.  The book describes his hopes, his concerns, and most surprisingly, his interactions with his captors.  Dr. Joseph was rescued a few days later by Seal Team Six.  Unfortunately, one seal was killed during this rescue.  Throughout this book, Dr. Joseph had unwavering faith. 

This weekend

I'm actually writing this ahead of time as I know how anxious I'll be when the date gets closer.  This weekend, Chris and I (and the kids) will be going to Florida to help my stepmother pack some of my Dad's things.  My Dad's house sold and she is moving.  There are no words I can use to properly express my feelings about this trip.  Anxious, sad, heartbroken...are just a few.  Please pray I can hold it together, be strong, support my stepmother in whatever she needs and somehow keep our family together now that the glue (my Dad) is gone. 

Goodbye Grandma

Chris's 101 year old Grandma passed away 1 month ago today.  We loved her.  She lived in NY and was such a character.  She came over to the US at an early age on a boat from Sicily.  She worked hard and lost her husband at an early age and was left to raise 4 children and run a business alone.  Somehow, she not only managed, but thrived.  She was a successful business owner of a bridal shop in NYC and managed to raise 4 successful children as well.  I loved her stories, her spunk and energy, and her candidness.  I could always count on her to call it as she sees in and sometimes, I appreciate that quality in people.  RIP Grandma.  I will truly miss you.

2008 visit to see Grandma.  She was 95 then...and still driving!

 . 

She was so cute

 

We enjoyed our visit 

This was from our visit from March of 2014.  She was 101

She was still walking around. 

 

We love you Grandma

 

Our family the day of her funeral in NY. 

 

Weekend Recap- October 1-3

I'm still so far behind in blogging.  The first weekend in April, we were really busy!  Friday night, we had movie night at Mia's Elementary School.  We watched Monsters University.  It was fun.  Saturday, it was rainy so we went bowling.  That evening, Chris and I had a kickball game and then we enjoyed Sweet Frog after. 

Mia and I wore our pink addidas gear.  Mini me's

Bowling...

Pax got board after a few frames, but it was fun.

We love sweet frog

Movie night at school

2nd pumpkin patch, Oct. 2nd

We went to a second pumpkin patch the first weekend in October.  I have to admit, I was disappointed in this pumpkin patch.  It was $10 per person and I felt that the activities did not reflect the cost.  Regardless, the kids had fun and that's what matters.

 

Getting taller

He's almost as tall as Mia

Best Friends

They really like getting their picture taken

His smile is contagious

 

The slide was definitely the best part of this pumpkin patch

But I wish we had worn play clothes

My big kid had fun too

Proof that I was actually there!  I'm mainly behind the camera

 

They (the pumpkin patch map) called this the sand hill

 

I was not impressed, but the kids liked it

Spiderman pose

Pedal cars

  

It was harder than it looks...or maybe I'm just out of shape

Pure happiness

 

Hay Ride

I took a ride on the big slide too

and...it was fun!

Mia loves Sam

Here in Southern MD, we have a local country singer/band named Sam Grow (or the Sam Grow Band).  We've been following him for a few years now and we really love his music.  What I love most though, is his compassion and love for kids and his willingness to lift the spirits of kids with life threatening illnesses.  He finds out their favorite songs, records them, and sings it to them.  Sweet right?  That just makes us love him even more.  Mia loves his music and loves to meet him after every concert. 

Making faces

For a shy little girl, she will always go to him

Look for his new album coming out in early November.

Pumpkin Patch trip-- Sept 27th- Yup, I"m a little behind

At the end of September, we met my cousin and her grandkids at the pumpkin patch.  Our kids loved playing with their cousins and it was a great day!

Ethan and Mia liked the slingshot

It was fun trying to hit the scarecrow targets

Mia and Emma raced rubber ducks

 

Ella, Mia and Ethan racing ducks

Ella

 

Mia always smiling

Those girls love playing together

 

 

Mia smiling on the swing

Silly kids!

 

Tractor rides:  Pax and Mia

Finishing the corn maze

 

 

Love these 2

Hard to get 5 kids to all look at the camera at the same time

 

Corn Maze...

Picking a pumpkin

 

 

The ride back from the pumpkin patch

  

Oh how he's grown

 

and Mia as well